ostensively

adverb

Definition of ostensivelynext
as in seemingly
to all outward appearances he stops by his old office periodically, ostensively just to say "hi"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ostensively
  1. seemingly
  2. apparently
  3. ostensibly
  4. supposedly
  5. evidently
  6. presumably
Adverb
  • While the four vampires (plus their Monster and the Guide, played by Kristen Schaal) are largely unfazed by the news, Guillermo starts to spiral, seemingly unable to accept that this is the end of everything he's worked so hard for (under the watchful eye of the cameras).
    Stacy Lambe, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Instead, as the sun goes down, the crowd gazes out over the ocean where a pair of red lips suddenly seemingly appears out of nowhere.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of seemingly
Adverb
  • But he was sidelined with a groin injury late in training camp and apparently returned too soon, aggravating the injury in Week 2 and then being held out until Week 9.
    Phil Rogers, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Most notably because social media doesn’t have time to wait for answers on how a seemingly privileged, apparently not-quite-conservative-not-quite-liberal tech bro could have allegedly come to murder a top executive.
    Kara Alaimo, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of apparently
Adverb
  • Even the Paris Agreement, ostensibly a plan to limit climate change to an acceptable level, is swampy.
    Wal van Lierop, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Around-the-clock checks and 24/7 lighting are ostensibly security measures, but Dolovich is skeptical that such measures actually help prevent suicides or escapes.
    Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of ostensibly
Adverb
  • When Core Scientific proposed building its data center in town—a project that would supposedly deliver the utility up to $8 million a year in revenue—the city’s local power utility was $140 million in debt after a historic winter storm in 2021.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The stagnation that has supposedly plagued U.S. ties with Latin America in recent years may have had less to do with a lack of bandwidth or ambition in Washington than some believe.
    Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of supposedly
Adverb
  • But the lack of composure and control, and the nerves that so evidently now riddle this team, are remarkable to watch given the level of talent and experience still at Guardiola’s disposal.
    Matias Grez, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Actress Christina Applegate has been open about her struggles with multiple sclerosis, which she was diagnosed with back in 2021 — but evidently, her symptoms had already been present two years prior.
    Alex Gonzalez, SPIN, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of evidently
Adverb
  • Whether that sort of pitch still works in the portal era, during which players presumably are seeking name, image and license payouts more than a tradition of glory, remains to be seen.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
  • That effort was documented by his wife, Kailey Willis, who recorded herself kneeling on the bathroom floor, presumably near the toilet.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of presumably
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near ostensively

ostensive

ostensively

ostentation

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ostensively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ostensively. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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